Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I get the burning on my lips and mouth to stop?
The most efficient way to counteract the spiciness of chillies is to drink milk or eat any dairy product as the substance casein found in them has been proven to relieve the burning sensation.
- How to I get chilli off my hands?
A common problem and the source of many excruciating and highly comical episodes, it is after making every mistake in the book (a particular favourite - putting contact lenses on after cooking with chillies) and trying out loads of grandmother’s remedies that we can gladly announce that lemon juice, fresh or from concentrate is the best way to get rid of chilli on your hands. Don’t forget to scrub any remaining oil under your nails by using a brush. Another way to avoid this problem is simply to wear latex gloves!
- I have got chilli in my eyes, what do I do?
Ask someone to tie your hands up and surrender to the pain until it stops! Washing or rubbing your eyes will only make it last, trust us!
- What makes chilli peppers hot?
In one word: Capsaicinoids. We will spare you a whole science lesson but will let you know the best thing to remember about them: thanks to their numerous properties and characteristics, there are endless possibilities for flavour and heat combinations.
- I like the flavour of a certain chilli but want to reduce its heat for my spice-fearing guests, how can I do that?
The heat is contained in the seeds and white flesh surrounding them. By removing these and the inner membranes you will reduce the heat considerably. Another way to enjoy the flavour and reduce the heat is also to cook more portions... there can never be enough chilli-related foods in the freezer!
- Is there any real difference in taste between a red, green or yellow cayenne?
The answer is yes. As with bell peppers, the red cayenne is usually sweeter, green is a tad bitter and yellow has a peppery taste.
- I am new to chillies and want to start safely. What chilli do you recommend?
Purely for taste, try a bit of the Poblano pepper raw. Its flavour is close to a normal bell pepper but has a hint of a kick.
- I want to store my chillies for use next year, what can i do?
You have a few options when it comes to storing chillies to use at a later date, you can freeze, dry or pickle them. More information on this can be found here.
